Lock



Sept. 25 1923. mfimm J. F. WHITE LOCK Filed Aug- 31 1916 3 sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 25, 1923,

J. F. WHITE LOCK Filed Aug. 51 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ept. 25, I923.

- i UNEIEfi QIATEd earner orator.

JOHN 1. mm, F GHCAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESH ASbliirfiinIENTS, T0 WHITE PRUDUC'ES COMPANY, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OI ILLINOIS.

LOCK.

Application filed August 31, 1916. Eerie] 130. 117,839.

To azlwlwmitmayclmcem:

Be it known'that I, JOHN F. WHITE a citizen of the United States, residing ,at

Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has particular reference to a lock of the type adapted to doors of antomobiles, vaults, refrigerators, or in other relations where a tight closure is required and wherein there is a tendency of the door to stick or bind.

The lock of the present invention is characterized by its self-seatin and selfstarting features as applie to the door,

whereby the door is drawn to its seat by the bolt in the closing of the door, and the sealing closure of the door is broken by the initial manual movement of the bolt-actuating lever in the operation of the lock in an opening direction.

Another feature of the invention is the co-operative relation of the operatin lever, bolt and spring, whereby a peculiar y easy action of the. lock is attained, the resistance of the spring remaining approximately constant throughout the movement of the bolt, and the lever connections being more nearly at the dead center when the bolt is completely retracted so that the spring in that position has little tendency to project the bolt until the lever is manipulated.

In order that the invention may be read ily understood and the manner of its application and utilization made clear, preferred and modified embodiments of the same are set forth in the accompanying. drawings and in the following detailed description based thereon. Obviously, however, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other and varied constructional forms without departure from the essence thereof or the sacrifice of its material advantages, wherefore it is to be understood that the drawing and description are to be taken in an illustrative and not in an unnecessarily limiting sense. In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of an automobile showing the lock applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the working parts of the bolts, the lock face plate havmg been removed;

b gig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the 'Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form of bolt;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation of the keeper;

- Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the bolt showing the locked relation of the bolt and keeper, the bolt being of the type shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a similar view, .the bolt being of the type shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an inside view of a modified form of the look as particularly adapted for refrigerator doors and the like Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the form of bolt used in connection with the lock illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an interior View of a slightly modified form of lock construction showing the door in its closed position;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section through the 10c}; and keeper immediately above the bolt; an r Fig. 12 is aview similar to Fig. 11 but showing the door in its closing position in full line and also showing in dotted lines the position assumed by the parts as the door approaches its closing position.

Having reference for the time being to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive wherein the invention is shown as embodied in a lock applied to an automobile door, the.body of the automobile is indicated at 21 and the door at 22, the latter being hinged .in the usual manner to swing to and from an open position Let into the inner surface of the door is a lock casing 23 covered by a lock plate 24:. Mounted for sliding movement within the lock case upon a guidmg pin 25 and having its rearward movement limited by the stop pin 26 is a bolt 27 An operating lever is fulcrumed at 28 within the case and has an operating handle 29 and a laterally extending projection 30. The lever handle 29 is slotted at 31 for the accommodation of the pin 32 carried by the bolt"27 thus constituting a-pin and slot connection between the lever and bolt. A spring 33 secured at 34: bears with its free end 35 upon the projection 30 of the "operating lever thus ten ing to force the lever to the right to project the bolt. It will be observed that the fulcrum point 28 of the lever is ofiset at one side of the line extending through the lever handle 29 and the point of bearing of the spring 35 on the pro ection 30, whereby, as will be seen from a comparison of the full line osition and dotted position of the arts in ig. 2, the point of application of the spring to the lever has such relation to the lever fulcrum and pin and slot connection of the lever to the bolt as to provide a dead center intermediate the extreme positions of the bolt and approximately at the retracted pos tion of the latter. Thus, when the lever is drawn to the extreme left hand position with the bolt entirely retracted within the lock the action of the spring is not suflicient to carry the lever past the dead center and to pro ect the bolt. It will also be seen from a comarison of the two positions illustratedin ig. 2, that the tension of the spring 33 1ncreases very gradually as the bolt is retracted and that the resistance of the spring to the retraction of the bolt is approximately constant at all positions of the latter due to the factthat in the projected position as shown in full lines the point of application of the spring to the lever is substantially in line with the anchorin point 34 of the spring and the fulcrum o the lever whereby in the retracted position, of the bolt the point of application of the spring to the lever is considerably above this straight line. This obviates the objectionable feature found in many bolts that resistance to the spring increases rapidly as the bolt is retracted and reduced to its lowest point when the bolt is in its pro'ected position.

hile it is possible to use in connection with this lock, to a full utilization of the advantageous features of the lever and sprin mounting 'hereinbefore described, a bolt of the character shown in Fig. 4, it is preferred to use that type of b'olt shown in Fig. 3 in detail and also included in Figs. 1 and 2, which bolt has a particular characteristic marking an important feature of the invention. As illustrated, the bolt'27 has its end reduced in width at 36 and deflected obliquely to provide inclined side faces 37 and 37 which have important functions hereafter to be made clear.

The keeper 38 has the usual inclined approach 39 and is provided with a T-slot, the narrow portion 40 of which extends through the approach 39 of the keeper and is then widened out at 41 in the body of the keeper. The portion 40 of the T-slot is of a width sutlicient to accommodate readily and allow for the passage of the bolt end 36, and the wider portion 41 of the T-slot is of a width sufiicient to accommodate the outer portion of the bolt adjacent the head 36. The operation of the lock in the closing of the door is as follows: Assuming the door to be in its open position with the bolt projecting, as the door is swung inwardly the shoulder 42 of the bolt will engage the approach 39 of the keeper ressing the bolt slightly inward until its s oulder 42 clears said approach 39. During this time the end 36 of the bolt is passing throu h the slot 40. Prior to reach ing the close osition of the door, the inclined face 37 of the bolt end engages the rear wall 43 of the slot as an abutment and the coaction of this abutment with the inclined face of the bolt end draws the bolt outwardly from the lock into the wide portion of the kee er slot, assisting the sprin 33 and rendering the keepin of the bot within the keeper positive. 11 this position the shouldered portion 42 of the bolt is accommodated within the wide portion 41 of the T-slot and any tendency of the door to 0 en is resisted by the outward bearing of the olt 27 against the front walls of the slot portion 41 indicated at 44.

In opening the door, the operation is re-' versed. The lever 29 being moved to the left and acting upon the bolt 27 to retract the same, the inclined face 37 of the bolt end coacts with the abutment surface 43 of the keeper to start the door in an opening direction after the shoulder ortion 42 of the bolt has cleared the forwar walls 44 of the slot whereupon the door is free to swing open, the bolt end 37 passing through the slots 40.

In Figures 8 and 9 are shown certain salient features of the invention as applied to a gravity operated bolt ,for refrigerator doors and the like. Here the lock casing is indicated at 51 having its edge 52 serving as a guide for the bolt 53, any tilting upward movement of which is restricted by the pin 54. In this case no springs are employed to project the bolt, this function being performed by the gravity of the weighted end 55 of the lever pivoted at 56 and carrying a pinion 57 which meshes with -a rack 58 formed in the upper edge of the bolt 53. In this case the bolt end is shown as cut away in its upper portion to provide the shoulder 59 and the reduced bolt end 60 which is obliquely deflected as in the former case to provide an inclined side face 61 and an inclined face 61".

The operation here is on the same principle as that described with reference to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. The slot of the keeper in this case would be L-shape instead of T-shape and the reduced end 60 of the bolt having passed through the initial portion of the slot theinclined face 61 engages the keeper and assists the weight of the handle 55 in projecting the bolt outwardly into the keeper, while the movement of the handle 55 in the opposite direction will cause the inclined face 61 to ride upon the abutment face of the keeper and start the door in the openin direction.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 a slight y. modified form of construction is shown both as to the keeper and as to the mounting of the lever tea ill

naeaoee and spring relative to the bolt. As here illustrated the bolt 71 is ided for sliding movement within the case 72 upon a guiding ledge 7 3 and has its front face cut away to form 'a recess 74 having a forward inclined face 7 5 and a rearward inclined f 76. The spring 77 anchored at 78 has one end engaged by a in 79 and the other end 80 bears against the inclined face 75 thus tending to pro'ect the bolt outwardly from the case. The bolt operating lever 81 is fulcrumed at 82 and has an ofiset portion lying within the recess 74 and bearing against the inclined wall 7 6. The movement of the lever 81 to the left will cause the retraction of the bolt against the tension of the spring 77 as is obvious. In this case as in that previously described, the application of the spring to the lever throu h the intermedia of the bolt has such relation to the lever fu crum and the connection of the lever to the bolt as to provide a dead center intermediate the extreme position to the bolt and nearer the retracted position. The application of the spring is also such in the present instance that the. tension of the spring as manifested in its resistance to the retraction of the bolt is substantially constant through out the movement of the latter.

In this embodiment of the invention the bolt end is not reduced in a vertical direc tion although it is transversely or in a horizontal direction, but the bolt end is deflected obliquely at 83 toprovide oblique side faces 84: and 84c as in the former construction. As here shown, the keeper 85 is provided with an ordinary rectangular opening or slot 86 and in front of said opening or slot is provided with a keeper approach 87 inclined to the arc of movement of the swinging door. The rear wall of the aperture or slot 86, as indicated at 87, forms a rear abutment for the entering bolt and serves substantially the same function as the wall 43 of the slot in the keeper previously described.

The operatlon of this embodiment of the invention will be readily understood. The

door being open and the bolt projecting, as the door is swung toward its closed position the outer end of the bolt will strike first the approach 87 of the keeper as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12, it will ride up this incline partially retracting the bolt until the point thereof reaches the aperture 86 where-. upon, under the influence of the spring 77, the point will enter the aperture and the inclined face 84 thereof will coact with the abutment wall 88 of the aperture to draw the bolt outwardly from the lock into the keeper to the ositionshown in Fig. 11 with meat 88 thus starting the door in an opening direction.

A further feature of the invention, common to all forms of construction save that shown in Figures 4 and 7 where'the bolt does not have the deflected end with inclined faces, is the fact that the deflected end of the bolt is not only rovided on its forward face with an incline portion 37 Figs. 1 to 6) or 61 (Figs. 8 and 9), or 84 igs. 10, 11. and 12) but the deflected end of the bolt is rovided with an oppositely facing inclined ace 37, 61, or 84, as shown in the respective figures above mentioned. This serves an important function in that as the bolt is projected by the spring or by the lever, the extreme point of the bolt havin entered the slot in the keeper, the incline face 84, for instance, will coact with the front wall of the slot 88 (Figs. ll, 12) to force the door to its seat as the bolt is further projected. a

The manifold advantages of the invention are evident as is also the fact that it is applicable in many relations to doors of various types other than those herein specifically referred to by way of illustration.

T claim:

i. In a lock for swinging doors, a bolt having its end reduced in width and deflected obliquely forward to provide an in clined side face, and a keeper having an angular slot to receive the bolt end and having a portion at the terminus of the slot arranged to serve as an abutment for and to coact with the inclined face of the bolt OED end to draw the bolt outwardly from the look into the odset portion of the slot in the keeper as the door is closed.

2. In a lock for swinging doors, a bolt having its end provided with a forwardly inclined side face, and a keeper arranged to receive the bolt end and havmg a portion arranged to coact' with the inclined face of the same to draw the bolt outwardly from the look into the keeper as the door is closed, and an operating handle to manually withdraw the bolt from the keeper, the coaction of the inclined face of the bolt with the abutment portion of the keeper serving to start the door in the open direction.

3. In a lock for swinging doors, a bolt having its end reduced in width and deflected obliquely forward to provide an inclined side face, and a-keeper having a T-slot to receive the bolt end and having a ortion at the terminus of the slot arrange to serve as an abutment for and to ccact with the inclined face of the bolt end to draw the bolt outwardly from the look into the wider portion of the slot in the keeper as the door is closed. 7

4:. In a. lock for swinging doors, a bolt having its end reduced in width and deflected obliquely forward to provide an inllld llld

clined side face, and a keeper having a T- slot to receive the bolt end and having a portion at the terminus of the slot a v to serve as an abutment for and to coact with the inclined face of the bolt end to draw the bolt outwardly from the look into the wider portion of the slot in the kee r as the door is closed, and an operating audio to manually withdraw the bolt from the keeper the coaction of the inclined face of the bolt with the abutment portion of the keeper serving to start the door in the open direction.

5. In a lock, the combination of a sliding bolt, an operating lever having a fixed fulcrum and a floating-connection to the bolt, and a spring bearing on the lever, the int of application of the lever to the bolt ing nearer the fulcrum in the retracted than in the projected positions of the bolt.

6. In a lock, the combination of a sliding bolt, an operatin lever having a floating connection to the it, and a s ring bearing on the lever, the point of application of the spring to the lever varying relative to the lever fulcrum and the connection between the lever and bolt shifting in a line to wards and from the said fulcrum to rovide for the maintenance of a substantia ly uniform resistance of the spring to the retraction of the bolt throughout the movement of the latter.

7. In a lock, the combination of a sliding bolt, an operating lever having a fixed fulcrum and a pin and slot connection with the bolt, the axis of the slot being substantially aligned with the lever fulcrum, the lever having a laterally extending pro'ection adjacent its fulcrum, and a spring earing on the lever projection.

8. In a lock, the combination of a sliding bolt, an operating lever connecting with the bolt, and a spring tending to pro'ect the bolt from the lock case, the distance etween the lever fulcrum and the point of connec: tion between the lever and the bolt diminishing as the bolt is retracted.

9. In a lock, the combination of a sliding bolt provided with a pin projection, an operating lever having a slot accommodating the pin of the bolt, the lever having a laterally extending projection adjacent its fulcrum, and a spring bearing on the lever pro- 10. In a lock, the combination of a slide ing bolt, an operating lever having a pin and slot connection with the bolt, the lever having a laterally extending projection adjacent its fulcrum, and a spring bearing on the lever pro'ection, the fulcrum being ofiset at one si e of a line through the lever handle and the point of bearing of the s ring whereby to provide for a substan tially uniform resistance of the s ring to the retraction of the bolt throng out the movement of the latter, the axis of the slot being substantially alignedwith the fulcrum whereby as the bolt is retracted the distance is reduced between the fulcrum and the connection of the lever .with the bolt.

11. In a lock for swinging doors, a sliding bolt having its end provided with a forwardly inclined side face, means for actuating said bolt, and a keeper arranged to receive thebolt end and having a portion arranged to coact with the inclined face of the same to force the door to its seat as the bolt is projected by the actuating means.

12. In a lock for swinging doors, a bolt having its end provided with front and rear forwardly incllned side faces, means for actuating said bolt, and a keeper arranged to receive the bolt end and havin portions arranged to coact with the inclined faces ofthe same to force the door to its seat as the bolt is rojected and to force the door in an open direction as the bolt is retracted by the actuating means.

13. In a lockfor swingin doors, a bolt having its end provided wit a forwardly inclined side face, means for actuating said bolt, and a keeper arranged to receive the bolt end and having a portion arranged to coa ct with the inclined face of the same to force the door in an opening direction as the bolt is withdrawn from the keeper by the scribing witnesses.

' JOHN F. WHITE. Witnesses:

Lawns T. Gamer, L. E. l-IANNEN. 

